Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Nearby Entries
insularism - 3 dictionary results

in⋅su⋅lar

   [in-suh-ler, ins-yuh-]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to an island or islands: insular possessions.
2. dwelling or situated on an island.
3. forming an island: insular rocks.
4. detached; standing alone; isolated.
5. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of islanders.
6. narrow-minded or illiberal; provincial: insular attitudes toward foreigners.
7. Pathology. occurring in or characterized by one or more isolated spots, patches, or the like.
8. Anatomy. pertaining to an island of cells or tissue, as the islets of Langerhans.
–noun
9. an inhabitant of an island; islander.
Origin:
1605–15; < LL insulāris. See insula, -ar 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source
in·su·lar     (ĭn'sə-lər, ĭns'yə-)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
    1. Of, relating to, or constituting an island.
    2. Living or located on an island.
    3. Suggestive of the isolated life of an island: "He is an exceedingly insular man, so deeply private as to seem inaccessible to the scrutiny of a novelist" (Leonard Michaels).
    4. Circumscribed and detached in outlook and experience; narrow or provincial.
    1. Suggestive of the isolated life of an island: "He is an exceedingly insular man, so deeply private as to seem inaccessible to the scrutiny of a novelist" (Leonard Michaels).
    2. Circumscribed and detached in outlook and experience; narrow or provincial.
  3. Anatomy Of or relating to isolated tissue or an island of tissue.


[French insulaire, from Late Latin īnsulāris, from Latin īnsula, island.]

in'su·lar·ism, in'su·lar'i·ty (-lār'ĭ-tē) n., in'su·lar·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
insularism

noun
the state of being isolated or detached; "the insulation of England was preserved by the English Channel" [syn: insulation] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source
Share :Share This: digg.comShare This: www.stumbleupon.comShare This: del.icio.usShare This: FacebookShare This: favorites.live.comShare This: www.technorati.comShare This: furl.netShare This: www.myspace.comShare This: www.google.comShare This: myweb2.search.yahoo.comShare This: myjeeves.ask.com
Search another word or see insularism on Thesaurus | Reference | Translate
Get your FREE Subscription to Dictionary.com Word of the Day
The FREE Dictionary.com Toolbar
Dictionary Thesaurus Reference
The answers are right on your browser and just a click away with Dictionary.com Toolbar.